After a weekend of what he calls “extreme” fireworks in Redford, Township Clerk Garth Christie wants the Michigan legislature to take action.

“It’s just too easy for anyone to get commercial grade fireworks,” Christie said. “It’s as easy as getting a gallon of milk.”

Christie is urging residents to sign an online petition calling for a repeal of the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011, at petitions.moveon.org, called “Repeal the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011.”

After hearing from veterans and pet owners and others, Christie said this has now become a quality of life issue.

“I am a pet owner,” Christie said. “It made my pet sick.”

Residents posted many complaints about the noise on Facebook.

“The noise is horrible! ....I just wish people were more considerate,” one person wrote.

“It’s scary because you never know where the debris will land,” another wrote. “It is the 4th and you should have a good time, but be safe and be considerate of your neighbors too!”

But a few favored the 2011 law.

“I bet that all of you complaining about the fireworks on the 4th of July also say bah humbug at Christmas, it’s a holiday, if you don't like it, prepare yourself. Prepare your animals and be responsible,” one said.

Online petition

The petition, addressed to the Michigan State House, Senate and Gov. Rick Snyder, was started by Brad Lang of West Bloomfield and as of Thursday had more than 20,000 signatures.

“We call upon the members of the Michigan Legislature to immediately repeal the Fireworks Safety Act 256 of 2011, and for the governor to sign that repeal, in the interest of the safety and well-being of the citizens of Michigan,” Lang’s petition says.

The 2011 law made it legal to purchase airborne, commercial-grade fireworks in Michigan.

“The result has been a drastic increase in the amount and violence of private fireworks displays all over the state of Michigan, thereby endangering people, pets and property. It is not worth the additional revenue,” Lang’s petition says.

“We want to return to the time before 2011 when these airborne fireworks were illegal to sell, purchase and use in the State of Michigan,” the petition says.

Christie said the law doesn’t make sense in an urban area such as Redford. “We shouldn’t have the same standards as the more rural areas Up North.”

The issue has also become one of safety as he said he drove around in the wee hours of the morning on July 5 as fireworks were still going off to see what was going on.

Redford police Chief Eric Pahl said police fielded about the same number of calls this year as they did in 2014, though he said he’s heard from residents that they believe there have been more this year than last.

“I am in full support of any attempt to have the fireworks law repealed or at least curtailed in areas with higher populations, like Redford,” he said. “I believe the change has decreased the quality of life for many of the residents in Redford.”

Fireworks parties

People are having fireworks parties, he said.

The problem seems to have become worse this year as it took a few years for a culture to develop.

“You didn’t see that many fireworks parties in the past,” with people in chairs in the front lawn and cars parked up and down the street, he said.

He saw people lighting fireworks in the middle of the street, even with cars parked on both sides of the street, he said.

“It was a beautiful summer evening,” Christie said. But the majority of people couldn’t sit outside and enjoy it, they were inside hunkered down in the basement, he said.

“I love fireworks when they are done professionally,” Christie said. “I hate them when my drunken neighbor is setting them off all day and night.”